Device for controlling repetitive machine runs in registering business machines

ABSTRACT

Device for controlling repetitive machine runs of registering business machines, that are operative by control keys which release in ascending order a number of machine runs to be executed, including a blocking slide coordinated with the control keys and provided with a plurality of stops, and line-counting circuit means cooperating with the blocking slide, after a given bookkeeping line is reached, to block the successive control keys step-wise, beginning with the highest key, for each successive repetitive machine run.

United States Patent Rethmeier [451 Aug. 8, 1972 [54] DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING 2,234,669 3/1941 Fettig ..235/6046 REPETITIVE MACHINE RUNS IN 2,337,091 12/ 1943 Fettig ..235/6046 REGISTERING BUSINESS cm 2,780,407 2/1957 Dodsworth ..235/60.46

[72] Inventor: Gerhard Rethmeier, Oldentrup,

Germany [22] Filed: May 1, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 33,722

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data May 3, 1969 Germany ..P 19 22 713.5

[52] US. Cl ..235/60.46 [51] Int. Cl. ..G06c 29/00 [58] Field of Search ..235/60.46, 7, 8

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,229,764 1/1941 Muller ..235l60.46

Primary Examiner-Stephen J. Tomsky Attomey-Curt M. Avery, Arthur E. Wilfond, Herbert L. Lerner and Daniel J. Tick ABSTRACT Device for controlling repetitive machine runs of registering business machines, that are operative by control keys which release in ascending order a number of machine runs to be executed, including a blocking slide coordinated with the control keys and provided with a plurality of stops, and line-counting circuit means cooperating with the blocking slide, after a given bookkeeping line is reached, to block the successive control keys step-wise, beginning with the highest key, for each successive repetitive machine run.

6 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING REPETITIVE MACHINE RUNS IN REGISTERING BUSINESS MACHINES My invention relates to device for controlling repetitive machine runs in registering business machines, that are actuable by control keys.

In British Pat. No. 767,091, a machine controlling repetitive machine runs is described that has an adjusting device for repetitive machine runs, the adjusting device having a control member that is adjustable from two repetitive machine runs up to nine repetitive machine runs. However, this machine is unable to process sheet or leaf-like vouchers with a constant number of lines.

Also, in German Pat. No. 527,381, a blocking device is disclosed wherein a proper constrained run of the keyed-in performance is secured by blocking slides. The known device releases only the key which controls the subsequent machine run.

In order to prepare bills wherein a number of changed items or amounts for deliveries or services and the sum thereof are printed by lines starting at the uppermost line, business machines such as bookkeeping machines have been provided with horizontally disposed printing tables with a printing device coordinated with a transport device that effects line-wise transportation of the voucher or the inserted bill.

A business or bookkeeping machine is known wherein further printing is forcibly prevented following the printing of the last bookkeeping line. However, this device becomes active only when the last bookkeeping line is reached.

It is accordingly an object of the invention, for lengthy bills wherein one or more charged items must be printed repeatedly by repetition machine runs, to provide a device for reliably curtailing additional repetitive machine runs when the last printed line has been passed.

Whith the foregoing and other objects in view, there is provided, in accordance with the invention, blocking means coordinated with the repetition keys and being activated before the last booking line is reached, to block, stepwise, the repetition keys in a descending sequence.

According to the invention, there is more specifically provided a device for controlling repetitive machine runs of registering business machines that is operative by control keys which release in ascending order a number of machine runs to be executed, includes a blocking slide coordinated with the control keys and provided with a plurality of stops, and line-counting circuit means cooperating with the blocking slide, after a given bookkeeping line is reached, to block the successive control keys stepwise, beginning with the highest key, for each successive repetitive machine run.

Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in device for controlling repetitive machine runs in registering business machines, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.

The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. I is a side elevational view of the machine drive according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the repetition device of the invention in combination with the machine drive of FIG. 1, only part of which is shown;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a device for freeing the control keys which release the repetitive machine runs.

Referring now to the drawings, and first particularly to FIG. I thereof, there is shown in a cash register, a drive motor 1 having a pinion 2 in driving connection through a step-down gear transmission system 3 to 6 with a gear wheel 7 to which there is secured a cam disc 8 that is provided with a control cam 9. Between the gear wheel 7 mounted on the shaft 10 and the cam disc 8, on the one hand, and a coaxially positioned front gear wheel 11, on the other hand, there is disposed an elastic coupling member 12, which serves to catch the impact loads which occur whenever the drive is stopped. The teeth of the front gear wheel 11 mesh with those of a gear wheel 14 affixed to the main shaft 13 of the machine, and at a front face of the gear wheel 14, there is rotatably mounted a roller 15 which cooperates with a curved part 16 of a control lever 17 pivotally mounted on a bolt 18. To an arm 19 of the control lever 17, there is articulatingly connected a rod 20 fonned with an L-shaped recess 21, in which a pin 24 that is secured to a lever arm 22 of an angle lever or bellcrank 23 is engaged. The angle lever 23 is mounted on a bolt or pivot 25, and a control lever 27 is pivotally mounted on a lever arm 26 of the angle lever 23. The control lever or driver 27 is suspended on a pin 28 of a control segment 29 which is affixed to a control shaft 30 having control pins 31 that act on non-illustrated arresting slides of a run-type and amount key bank, shortly before the completion of the respective machine run. A pull rod 32 is articulatingly connected to the pin 28 at one end thereof and, at the other end thereof to a pin 33 of a control segment 34 which is mounted on a shaft 35. A tension spring 37 is suspended from a stationary bolt or pin 36 and also engages the pin 33 of the segment 34 and exerts a biasing tensile force thereon is counterclockwise direction. The cam 38 is constructed as a stop and is located at a nose 39 of a control member 41 secured on a shaft 40. Turning of the control member 41 in counterclockwise direction causes twisting of the segment 34 which, under the biasing action of the tension spring 37, turns in the same rotary direction until it engages the stop 42. The operating shaft 40 is a part of a blocking device 43 which is described in great detail in German Pat. No. 964,950 and has control brackets 44 which effect the releasing operations with the aid of non-illustrated control discs or cams.

The aforementioned control segment 29 cooperates with a roller 45 of a control lever 46 which has a stop 47 that abuts against a bolt 48, in the inwardly swung position of the lever 46. The control lever 46 is mounted on the bolt or pin 25 and is provided with a control nose47 which is subject to the action of the control cam 9. A tension spring 49 suspended from a fixed point is connected to an angle-shaped lever arm 48 of the control lever 46 and a control rod 51 formed with a rectangular recess 52 into which there extends a control arm 53 of a non-illustrated motor switch, is also connected thereto at a pin 50. The rod 51 is pivotally secured to a pin 54 of a three-arm coupling lever 55, having an upper blocking arm 56 provided with a blocking hook 57 which cooperates with a blocking cam 58 of a blocking disc 59 that is fixedly mounted on the main shaft 13 of the machine. A pin 60 is riveted into the blocking disc 58 and is provided with a roller 61 that is mounted thereon and when the machine drive is switched off, acts upon a stop 63 located on a lower lever arm 62 of the coupling lever.

As soon as the blocking device 43 releases the control segment 34, the control segment 29 begins to move in counterclockwise direction and releases the control lever 46 which turns clockwise under the biasing action of the tension spring 49, switches on the motor 1 and raises away the blocking hook 57. At the same time, the curved portion 16 of the switching lever 17 swings out of the path of the roller 15. Depending upon the adjustment of the rod 20, which will be described hereinafter in greater detail, the roller adjusts the control lever 17 counterclockwise, prior to the completion of the machine run. The lever 17 thus transfers the control segment 34 to the original position thereof shown in F IG. 1.

As seen in F IG. 2, a repetitive control key bank 65 is provided at a non-illustrated setting field of the machine, an arresting slider 66 as well as a zero latch slider 67 being built into the bank 65, as well as shiftable keys 68, 69 having key shafts 70, 71-. and which cooperate with movably arranged stops 72, 73 of a control slide 74. The latter is guided by means of longitudinal slots 75 formed therein, through which stationary pins 76 extend and has control teeth 77 located at the underside thereof. A tension spring 79 is suspended from a pin 78 of the control slide 74 and is affixed to stationary stay bolt 80 extending from the machine housing. A control pawl 81 acts on the control teeth 77 and is pivotally mounted on the three-arm control lever 82 and moves the control slide 74 one step to the left-hand side of FIG. 1 during each advancing movement of the lever 82. The control lever 82 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 83 and is subjected to the biasing effect of a tension spring 84 which engages arm 85. The control pawl 81 is stressed by a tension spring 86 suspended from the lever 82 and acting on the pawl 81 in clockwise direction. A sensing roller 88 is mounted on the lever arm 87 of the control pawl 82 and is affected by a cam disc 89 which is secured to the main shaft 13 of the machine. The cam disc 89 also cooperates with a sensing roller 90 of a three-armed control lever 91 which-is also mounted on the shaft 83 and has a lever arm 92 subject to the biasing effect of a tension spring 93. A control nose 94 of the lever 91 extends over a pin 95 of a latch 96 in the operative position, so that control pawl 96 is prevented, in arrested or blocked condition from rotating in clockwise direction.

The control pawl 96 controls the movements of a blocking pawl 97 which when in inserted position, as illustrated in FIG. 2, has a blocking effect upon the control teeth 77 of the control slide 74. A springloaded rod 98 is pivotally mounted on the pin of the control pawl 96 and is further articulatingly connected to pin 99 on the rod 20 (note also FIG. 1). A control pin 100 is riveted to the control slide 74 and cooperates with the pawl 96, turning the latter counterclockwise during the last machine run, as a result of which the rod 98, is moved to the right-hand side, as viewed in FIG. 2, and swings the rod 20 to the right until the pin 24 is located in a horizontal recess 101 formed in the rod 20. As soon as the roller 15 moves the control lever 17 counterclockwise, the angle lever 23 is displaced and the control segment 29 passes into blocking position. Moreover, during this operation, the control pawl 96 lifts the blocking pawl 97 away from the vicinity of the control teeth 77.

The respective key 68 or 69 is depressed for repetitive machine runs, whereupon the zero latch slide 67 raises a zero pawl 102.

The control pawl 81 which, at the beginning of the machine run, is swung out of the original position thereof as well as the blocking pawl 97 which has been transferred into an ineffective position, release the control slide 74, which has moved, under the biasing action of the tension spring 79 so far to the right-hand side, as viewed in FIG. 2, until one of its stops 72, 73 strikes the respective depressed key shaft 70, 71 During the first repetitive machine run, control lever 82 as well as the control lever 91 are swung by the cam disc 89 first in counterclockwise direction and, following this, in clockwise direction. Consequently, the control pawl 81 advances thecontrol'slide 74 by one control step, and the blocking pawl 97 arrests the slide 74 in its respective position under the action of the control lever 91 during the return run of the control pawl 81. During the last repetitive machine run, the pin 100 with the aid of the pawl 96 and the rod 98, controls the completion of the repetitive machine runs. The device described hereinbefore is known.

According to the invention, a pin 105 (FIG. 3) is riveted on the arm 85 of the control lever 82 and engages in a slot 106 of a transfer lever 107. The latter, which assumes in its original position, the position I, is pivotally mounted on a bolt or pin 108, and a pin 110 riveted to a cranked lever arm 109 thereof, the pin 1 10 serving as a bearing bolt for a control pawl 1 1 1 having a pin 112 engaged by a tension spring 113, which is suspended from the transfer lever 107 and which causes the edge 1 14 of the control pawl 1 1 1 to abut the stop 115 of the transfer lever 107. The control nose 116 of the pawl 111 cooperates with a ratchet wheel 117 which is non-rotatably mounted on a shaft 118 and has 35 control teeth 119, as well as being formed with a recess 120 corresponding to one tooth width, which serves for the idle stroke during other machine runs. The pin 105, the control lever 82 to which the pin 105 is secured, the transfer lever 107 formed with the slot 106 in which the pin 105 is received, the control pawl 1 11 connected to the transfer lever 107 by the pin 1 10, and the ratchet wheel 1 17, as well as the main shaft 13 and the cam disc 89 constitute a rachet drive. Behind the ratchet wheel 117, there is another ratchet wheel 121, having 36 teeth, which is also secured to the shaft 118 and is under the influence of a holding pawl 122 which is pivotally mounted on a stationary pin 123. A

spring-loaded pin 124 of the holding pawl 122, engages in a slot 125 formed in a control rod 126, which is articulatingly connected with the aid of pin 127 to a control lever 128 that is clamped on a control shaft 129. A reversing lever 130 is secured on the shaft 129 and has a control rod 131 operatively connected to a non-illustrated solenoid which transfers, in switched-on condition thereof, the control lever 128, in the original position I thereof, to the active position II thereof, as shown in FIG. 3. In the switched-off condition of the non-illustrated solenoid, the spring-biased control lever 128 transfers into the position I, in which the holding pawl 122 has been swung out. The switching-on of the nonillustrated pull magnet or solenoid is effected by a voucher which is inserted into a non-illustrated printing table of the machine and actuates a micro-switch coor dinated therewith. The ratchet wheel 121, the holding pawl 122, the control rod 126, the control lever 128, the reversing lever 130, the control rod 131 and the nonillustrated solenoid or pull magnet all constitute reversingrun locking means.

A drum 132 is also secured on the shaft 118 and serves for receiving thereon a tape 133, which is held by a tension spring 134 suspended from a stationary pin 135 and acts upon the drum 132 in counterclockwise direction. The shaft 118 is also surmounted by a pinion 138, equipped with two transfer teeth 136, 137, which cooperates with the transfer teeth 139 of a slide 142, guided in pin-and-slot connections 140, 141, and engaged by a tension spring 144 suspended from a stationary pin 143. A shiftable stop 145, which is also clamped to the shaft 118, cooperates with a stationary stop 146 and can be adjusted to any desired number of lines. A nose 147 is located on the slide 142, one end of a tension spring 148 being suspended therefrom and the other end of the spring 148 being attached to an eye 149 of a blocking slide 150. The latter has a pin 151 extending therefrom and engaging in the slot 152 of the slide 142 whereby the tension spring 148 normally holds the pin 151 in the position illustrated in FIG. 3.

The blocking slide 150 is guided in pin-and-slot connections 153, 154 and is coordinated with the repetitive control key bank 65 (FIG. 2). The pins 155, 156 of the keys 68, 69 cooperate with blocking teeth 157, 158 of the block guide 150 which are so formed that, following the respective controlling steps of the blocking slide 150, the control keys 68, 69 are blocked in sequence.

In the embodiment, 39 lines were assumed per voucher. No control step is effected by the blocking segment 150 in the first 27 lines. As soon as the action of the ,control pawl 111 causes the ratchet wheels 117 and 121 to transfer into the position illustrated in FIG. 3, the first hoisting tooth 137 of the pinion 138 engages the first tooth 139 of the slide 142, at the 28th control tooth 119, and advances the slide 142 in direction opposite to the biasing action of the tension spring 144 by one step to the left-hand side, as viewed in FIG. 3, which causes blocking of the key pin 159 of the uppermost key (nine repetition machine runs) and the tension spring 134 is drawn taut. Following another machine run (29th printing line), the key 69 which is provided for eight repetitive machine runs, is blocked. The key 68 (two repetitive machine runs) is blocked by stop 157 upon reaching the 35th control tooth 119.

During each movement of the control lever 82, during which the transfer lever 107 is moved back and forth from position I into position II, by means of the cam disc 89 and the switching lever 82, the pawl 111 coordinated therewith strikes in the final position with its stop 160 against the stationary pin 161 and is raised as a result into the position 1 of the transfer lever 107.

After a bookkeeping operation is completed and the voucher is transferred, the control shaft 129 transfers the control lever into its original position I, whereby the holding pawl 122 is swung out of the range of the control teeth 119. Since the lever 107 assumes position I, in the original position thereof, the tension spring 134 with the aid of drum 132, can turn the shaft 1 18, during the outward swinging of the pawl 122 in a counterclockwise direction, until the rotatable stop abuts the stationary stop 146.

lclaim:

1. Device for controlling repetitive machine runs of a registering business machine that is operative by control keys which release in ascending order, a number of machine runs to be executed for printing a sequence of bookkeeping lines on a voucher, comprising a blocking slide coordinated with the control keys and provided with a plurality of stops, and line-counting circuit means operatively engageable with said blocking slide, after a given bookkeeping line is reached, to block the successive control keys step-wise, beginning with the highest key, for each successive repetitive machine run.

2. Device according to claim '1, including a ratchet drive comprising a ratchet wheel and a plurality of cooperatively connected levers operatively associated therewith, as well as a reversing run locking means being coordinated with said line-counting circuit means and means responsive to a voucher inserted in the business machine and operatively engaging, respectively, the main drive shaft of the business machine and said cooperatively connected levers for adjusting said ratchet drive and said reversing run locking means.

3. Device according to claim 2, wherein said ratchet drive and said reversing run locking means are mounted on a control shaft, and including spring means acting upon said control shaft for turning the same, a pinion provided with a plurality of control teeth being mounted on said control shaft, and a blocking slide in accordance with a predetermined rotary angle of said control shaft, being stepwise transferable by said control shaft into individual operating positions thereof.

4. Device according to claim 3, wherein said control shaft is coordinated with a stop, said stop being adjustable to a plurality of positions which determine the total number of line printings to be effected.

5. Device according to claim 3, including a transfer slide provided with a plurality of control teeth, said blocking slide being force-lockingly connected to said transfer slide, and a control key coordinated with said transfer slide, said control teeth of said transfer slide meshing with teeth of said pinion in accordance with a predetermined rotary angle of said pinion so as to permit adjusting movements of said transfer slide when said control key is pressed.

6. Device according to claim 5, including a control slide coordinated with said control key, a control lever, a cam disc cooperating with a plurality of control pawls for driving said control lever for effecting adjusting movements of said control slide as well as of said ratchet wheel of said ratchet drive.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 682, 377 Dated August 197 Inventor) Gerhard Rethmeier' It is certified that: error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the heading to the printed specification, the name and address of the assignee was omitted, which is:

-ANKER-WERKE AG, Bielefeld, Germany-- Signed and sealed this 13th day of February 1973.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. Attesting Officer ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Commissioner of Patents P04 W) UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 56 CERTIFICATE OF CQRRECTION Patent No. 3 377 Dated August 8, 1972 Inventor( Gerhard Rethmeier' It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the heading to the printed specification,

the name and address of the assignee was omitted, which is:

--ANKER-WERKE AG, Bielefeld, Germany-- Signed and sealed this 13th day of February 1973.,

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLET(PHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attestlng Officer Commissioner of- Patents zgigi' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 ,377 Dated August 8, 97

Inventor) Gerhard Rethmeier It is certified that error appears in the above-ident1fied patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the heading to the printed specification, the name and address of the assignee was omitted, which is:

--ANKER-WERKE AG, Bielefeld, Germany-- Signed and sealed this 13th day of February 1973.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. Attesting Officer ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Commissioner of Patents 

1. Device for controlling repetitive machine runs of a registering business machine that is operative by control keys which release in ascending order, a number of machine runs to be executed for printing a sequence of bookkeeping lines on a voucher, comprising a blocking slide coordinated with the control keys and provided with a plurality of stops, and line-counting circuit means operatively engageable with said blocking slide, after a given bookkeeping line is reached, to block the successive control keys step-wise, beginning with the highest key, for each successive repetitive machine run.
 2. Device according to claim 1, including a ratchet drive comprising a ratchet wheel and a plurality of cooperatively connected levers operatively associated therewith, as well as a reversing run locking means being coordinated with said line-counting circuit means and means responsive to a voucher inserted in the business machine and operatively engaging, respectively, the main drive shaft of the business machine and said cooperatIvely connected levers for adjusting said ratchet drive and said reversing run locking means.
 3. Device according to claim 2, wherein said ratchet drive and said reversing run locking means are mounted on a control shaft, and including spring means acting upon said control shaft for turning the same, a pinion provided with a plurality of control teeth being mounted on said control shaft, and a blocking slide in accordance with a predetermined rotary angle of said control shaft, being stepwise transferable by said control shaft into individual operating positions thereof.
 4. Device according to claim 3, wherein said control shaft is coordinated with a stop, said stop being adjustable to a plurality of positions which determine the total number of line printings to be effected.
 5. Device according to claim 3, including a transfer slide provided with a plurality of control teeth, said blocking slide being force-lockingly connected to said transfer slide, and a control key coordinated with said transfer slide, said control teeth of said transfer slide meshing with teeth of said pinion in accordance with a predetermined rotary angle of said pinion so as to permit adjusting movements of said transfer slide when said control key is pressed.
 6. Device according to claim 5, including a control slide coordinated with said control key, a control lever, a cam disc cooperating with a plurality of control pawls for driving said control lever for effecting adjusting movements of said control slide as well as of said ratchet wheel of said ratchet drive. 